Kaigler argues that consumers want to be able to play games with their kids, spouses, boyfriends and girlfriends, and grandparents, and Nintendo can offer that. "We're not saying that certain games can't succeed on Wii. We want those games. We want people to bring those opportunities to us. So I opened up my answer to your question by saying talk to SEGA, talk to those guys."

Her logic is hard to sidestep because the truth of the matter is that it's not Nintendo's responsibility to ensure that third-parties do well with their traditional software on Wii. Nintendo has lived up to its end of the bargain by delivering its partners an installed base of 50-million Wii users in just a couple of years. What third-parties choose to do with that audience is entirely up to them. But could Nintendo take a cue from a company like Apple which has, with iPhone, debuted commercials and online advertising in support of wares from its third-parties?

"You know, it's a different model. We don't compare ourselves, either our business model or the hardware, to iPhone. We just don't. So we are pleased with the way we are working with our partners. We have great relationships with our third-party partners and licensees. It's a different model, different experience -- we don't compare ourselves to those guys," says Kaigler.

The logo is self-explanatory. And really big. Changing subjects, I recap Iwata's GDC announcements, starting with The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for DS ("Did you cry?" she asks. I tell her no, but that a couple of my editors and I held each other for a little while). Then, never satisfied, I ask why we didn't see a major Wii game unveiling and if it might have something to do with the fact that E3 2009 looms in the not-too-distant future.

Kaigler laughs. "I think I probably won a hundred bucks on who's the first one who's going to ask me about what we have coming up for E3. I'm like, Matt!" Of course, I tell her, and I've got more E3 questions coming, too.

"I can answer them all in one fell swoop -- can you guess what that answer's going to be?" she asks and I say no comment. She laughs. "I tend not to ever say that because I was a reporter and I always hated it when people would say that to me, so I kind of wiped those two words out of my vocabulary. I will say to you, wait until E3."

Earlier from the GDC show floor, some Nintendo reps told me that I better get to E3 2009 early with a big team, comments that mesh well with Mr. Iwata's statements previously that Nintendo would demonstrate system-selling new software at the forthcoming exhibition. So I ask Kaigler to give me some kind of tease -- something to hype our readership. She will only say that E3 is in a couple months and that we'll have to wait and see.

"Is it going to be a big show for you guys?" I ask, still not ready to abandon the subject.

"Six ways from Sunday, you're going to ask me this question?" she responds, laughing. I'm just looking for a block quote, I say -- I've got no shame. It's not going to happen and I know it. "We don't have anything to say about E3 before June 2," she says, denying me that block quote once and for all.

Begrudgingly, I move on. Wii System Menu 4.0 was not only announced, but released at GDC earlier in the day. Wii owners can save and play games to and from an SD Card, eliminating the need to "clean out the fridge" on a regular basis. As always, I'm looking for more -- namely, any details on how all this extra storage capacity might influence Nintendo's weekly Virtual Console and WiiWare release schedule. "You guys have put out only a handful of N64 games so far and I have to think it has something to do with that previously limited storage, but that's just pure speculation on my part," I say.

A screen grab from the E3 exhibitor's page. Look, there's Nintendo. Unfortunately, that's about all we've got to go on.

"I do think this opens up a lot of interesting possibilities," she says. "We will look and see how this impacts our schedule, but we're excited about it as well." What about downloadable demos or add-ons? Does Kaigler foresee a day when Wii owners will welcome these online extras into their homes? I wouldn't hold my breath for that just yet. "We haven't made any plans to announce anything like that anytime soon," she says.

Time to try old trusty again. "So coming back, why should we be hyped about E3? If you just want to take a stab at that one, I'd appreciate it." Lots of laughter -- not what I was hoping for, but better than being kicked out of the room.

"First of all, off the record, Matt, can we just shut that off for a second? I rarely do what I'm about to do with you," she says.

Without delay, I push the pause buttons on my recording devices.

That's when Kaigler tells me something so megatonian-huge that I dare not repeat it because it would simply blow your mind. You could not handle it, trust me, so don't even think about it. Put it out of your mind, people.

All right, she doesn't tell me anything of the sort. But I wish she did. Does that count?